There's also another similar verb to tavata, and confusingly, its basic form is also tavata. The meaning of this word is to spell, and the verb conjugation differs only in consonant gradation.

Missä te tapaatte? - Where will you meet?

Missä te tavaatte? - Where will you spell?

If you mix up these verbs, Finns will still understand what you mean. However, if you want to reach for the perfection, be aware of the difference between the three following verbs and their four important forms.

Vieläkö koulussa tavataan, kun opetellaan lukemaan? - Do they still spell the words in syllables when learning to read at school?

(Notice that tavaaminen in Finnish means reading the words in syllables when learning how to read. It's not just listing the letters like in spelling bees. The question How do you spell your name? is
Kuinka sun nimi kirjoitetaan?, which literally means How your name is written?)

To kill: tappaa, tapan, tapoin, tappanut

This post was inspired by my friend Emili, who told me (in Finnish) about the interesting people she had spelled during the summer. She was pretty upset that nobody had corrected her during the last SEVEN years, but now she knows the difference! :)